Session 11: Commander of the River Forts

After their narrow escape from the Serth Hatama, the party stopped for the night at Galal-i-Yalir, the headquarters of Sir Ralus, commander of the River Forts. Reiana had a specific errand with Sir Ralus (part of her reason for coming North), and the party needed a safe place to rest after the harrowing events at the ruined fortress in the woods.

Galal-i-Yalir is the chief of the river-forts. Built along a similar pattern to Hural Yalir, which most have you had visited in the spring, it is somewhat larger, though still characterized by the high crenelated walls -- built high enough to withstand siege by the Kodihan, the ancient foes of the Ambori, even though there are none in this part of the world, so far as you know -- surrounded by a deep trench filled with sharpened stakes. This trench, traditionally traversed by a causeway of earth and stone, is here navigated by means of an actual drawbridge which can be raised or lowered from a large gatehouse on the other side of the trench. Two banners fly here, the winged leopard of Sir Ralus, and the Sword, Bow, and Gem of the House of Sencan. Perhaps in token of defiance of the current regime, or in mourning for the namesake of the fort, the banner of the House of Sencan flies lowered at half-mast. This is Prince Galal's own fort where Ralus, after his dismissal from Ralakarr, has made his headquarters in command of the Legions of the Cheyth.

Thanks to their prior association with Lieutenant Samlon, who had hired them back in the Spring, the party had no difficulty gaining entrance to the Fort, and gaining an audience with Sir Ralus.

Sir Ralus is a short man according to the standards of the Ambori, standing just under six feet, with very fine and delicate features, but keen grey eyes that seem to glimmer from under his heavy brows and ample head of dark hair like quicksilver. Quicksilver, indeed, is a good analogy, for he seems prone to changes of mood. Now he is sarcastic and ironic, now quiet and reserved, now serious and studious, now inquisitive and capricious. It is only in an emergency, on the field of battle, that the deep roots beneath the ever-brimming surface can be seen. Then he is controlled and orderly as he always really is within, a man who knows the place and worth of every other man, and who can best see where they each ought to be placed. 

Sir Ralus listened to the Company's story, and after the dinner and entertainments were over, he spoke confidentially to Reiana and Vanera--the two members of the party he had decided he could trust. He laid out for them the situation, militarily and politically, as it stood on the Marches of the Cheyth: Sencankarr had all but abandoned them, and Ralus' position on the Marches was tenuous, since he was maintaining his legions at his own cost and by his own force of will, the position having been conceded to him as a sort of exile after he had been removed as governor of the North. But he had another reason for his residence there than just the security of the realm: the Loyalists (those of the Ambori who have remained loyal to Galal) have long believed that Galal is still living, and Ralus hopes to find some clue to his whereabouts there in the North. The letter which Reiana had brought from Loyalists in the Weixranbo indicated that there was reason to suspect that Onwae himself had orchestrated his brother's capture, and that a witness to this fact--one of Onwae's former agents--was living in exile somewhere in the North. Sir Ralus resolved to find this agent, if possible, and Reiana promised her aid. In token of his trust in the Company, Ralus gave Reiana and Vanera tokens which would identify them as in his service and under his protection.

Reiana and Anaris slept in Arkjamu's quarters that night--Arkjamu being Sir Ralus' quiet, sickly daughter, whose health seems to have suffered as a result of her proximity to the Serth Hatama. The male members of the Company bunked with the cavalry officers that night, and Tengelbur managed to gamble away his cloak, as well as two weeks time spent mucking the fort stables. The next day, the part all headed back to Cheykor, where we paused for the Season's Fellowship Phase.

• Anaris spent time composing a new Company Song.
• Reiana spent some time crafting, attempting to clear some of the Shadow she had picked up as a result of their activities in the Serth Hatama.
• Tengelbur spent some time mucking the stables at Galal-i-Yalir, as per the terms of his bet.
• Vanera spent some time at the Norinlakor researching the lore of the Stone Kings (and received a letter from home).
• Tanurendal forged himself a new hauberk of mail.